Wondering to what extent to trust private medical report

[Bienentrinkwasser]

DH has a serious accident a while ago for which we are claiming compensation for various reasons. He recently had a MRI as recommended by a private consultant when he had his medical for the claim. MRI report has just come through and is now recommending spinal surgery. Part of me is really skeptical and thinks this is all just lawyers and private drs rubbing each other’s backs. On the other hand, what kind of doctor would recommend a major (and frankly terrifying) operation without good cause? Are private drs much quicker to recommend intervention? Or is DH just receiving a much better standard of care than he did previously on the NHS?

Did he have an MRI via the NHS as well?

Do you think he needs spinal surgery? How has this accident affected his life to date? Would the surgery repair the damage ? Need more info to judge surely.

Pretty sure he didn’t, after the initial scan that diagnosed the injury when it happened anyway. Just X-rays.

I've not had a great experience with private healthcare personally I'd get a second opinion although unlikely to get an NHS one at this point in time.

My colleagues have had good experiences so maybe I was unlucky.

I prefer the NHS personally. Also the more people go private the more we head towards a 2 tier system. That's a separate point though!

Currently no, he doesn’t think his symptoms (some loss of sensation, stiffness, some adjustment to prevent pain in activities he would previously have undertaken, muscle soreness) are major surgery worthy. But there is no knowing how things could develop in 10/20/30 etc. years time. I believe he’s at greater risk of arthritis and other complications in the disks affected but we’ve not had another consultation to discuss risks/benefits yet.

Does the report say that he needs surgery now or that there is a risk that he might need it in the future? Either way, speak to your solicitor and/or tell your partner to speak to their GP if they are concerned.

@BeetrootRocks I work for the NHS. It’s part of what makes me a bit worried. But equally his career under the NHS was really quite poor sadly. Lots of appointments not made, chased for months, ended up going through PALS to eventually see someone, ended up in a collar for longer than was likely necessary due to to not being able to see a surgeon, not all treatment options discussed, follow up appointments repeatedly cancelled etc.

@HDready Not emergency surgery but the report implies elective in the near future rather than ‘might need at some point’.

I've found that doctors hate doing the legal medical bit, they don't get paid for ages and, rightly, put you far down their list compared to standard patients.
Can't you just build their recommendation into the claim so you've have the money if you need it? Or take it back to the NHS? Have the other side examined him as well? even if they don't do their own MRI they'll be checking if the treatment is recommended, best for them if it's not

I work in the insurance industry (legal).

There are a lot of back handers going on. So while strictly a doctor's duty is to the court (they have to sign a statement of truth on their report as I'm sure you'll have seen) the reality is that commercial arrangements do exist in this world.

Impossible to prove though. And there are lots of very good and honest doctors out there. But it is hard to know because there are many with conflicting interests overall.

I’d be really wary. Outcomes a year after surgery are about the same as without surgery.